Is There Hope for Food Equality?

It seems like every week there’s a headlines about the latest battle or protest for gays to marry, or race equality (or lack of it). People love division. They love the superiority of “we can have this and you can’t.”

And deny that that’s the case. Many of us don’t follow these things closely. I have friends and extended family for whom the issue of same sex marriage is extremely important. I have friends of other skin colors or country of birth who think if they were just like me they’d have more or be more or somehow not be held back. We all have our struggles, and things we can’t do much about. We can’t easily change the color of our skin.

The social media world and headlines sizzled this week about Paula Deen’s “use of the N word” and the Zimmerman trial. I admit that like the same sex marriage issue I don’t follow these closely, but it’s hard to get away from hearing or seeing something.

Personally, I hold people to who they are not what they are. When I introduce someone as a good person that’s how I say it – not “a good person for a black man/woman” or “a good person for a Californian”- that, to me, sounds like a backhanded insult. I truly don’t care about the color of someone’s skin as much as the color of their heart and the attitude they carry with them. That matters. That affects me.

Not what they wear, how they walk, where they hang out or what they eat. What people do in their own home isn’t my big concern. If someone has maintained a relationship of 15 or 20 years good for them…it’s longer than many marriages. I don’t want to deal with condemning anyone for such “qualifications.” Yes many stand up and say the Bible condemns it. The Bible condemns many other sins and actions also.

So when my friend Kelly mentioned a site hating based on food choices it struck me how can we be ever equal based on gender preference, skin color and other factors if we’re hated for what we eat?!

This website targets exVegans for harassment by publicly calling them out, posting names, contact information, photos etc. They say if it doesn’t change them the target can follow directions at a link – a link to how to commit suicide!

Are we seriously at a point where wishing someone DEAD is ok for a cause? It’s ok to target someone for not racial hate or talk but for eating a piece of cheese?! And there’s still doubt this is an unstable mental illness?

Many people out there probably are blissfully unaware today is PTSD day, and June carries a focus as PTSD month. What if all that hate was channeled into positive to help people?

The inexcusable call for someone to kill themselves because someone doesn’t like what they eat is bullying. It is when kids torment other kids, and some never grow up. We don’t know what burdens others are carrying. PTSD doesn’t have visible scars. Depression doesn’t have bruises.

And neither mean you have to fight it alone. Although PTSD is far too common with veterans, it is not just “a veteran’s thing.” Many cases you don’t know – even face to face, even regular contact – you don’t know when someone is reaching the end of their hope. (No that is not a typo.)

So instead of the hate of a website that targets people because of food, let’s focus on rebuilding dreams, rebuilding lives and avoiding suicide instead of calling for it. Take a few minutes…watch this video. Go to Stephen‘s Facebook page and find his state street teams. If you know someone struggling don’t wait too long to help them rearrange the pieces.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. People are out here who know what it’s like to be that low. Hopefully some day we’ll be able to do more, but for now…raise awareness one day at a time. Worry less about eliminating food choices and more about insuring family and friends are around to make them.

What a powerful piece! Thank you for introducing me to Stephen Cochran.
It is so easy to judge people based on the ways they differ from me (us). I’m sorry to say that the age of the internet and the anonymity that it grants only intensifies the outspoken mean-ness.
Three years ago, we very nearly lost our daughter (due to another person’s reckless, awful behavior). While her survival and subsequent recovery were nothing less than a miracle, the experience changed me in ways I never expected. Many expressions that would have simply slipped off my tongue with no thought that now bring a pang to this mother’s heart.
Today, I find myself being far more compassionate and understanding than ever before. PTSD is very real…it’s scary…and no one would wish it on their worst enemy. To tell people that their choices (of any type…but especially FOOD) are worthy of their demise is horrific.
If each of us just granted others the consideration we would like to have…what a world this would be!

Absolutely it would be! Thank you so much for the comments. I hope you’ll check out Stephen’s page, his efforts to bring awareness to the issue of PTSD and suicide and thank you for being one more ray of kindness so needed. Enough points of light can eliminate the darkness, but it’s sure difficult at times. Thanks so much for stopping by again!